MANCHESTER — According to Thai Ambassador to the United Nations Virachai Plasai, there is a lot Vermont can learn from Thailand when it comes to sustainability — but there is also much that Thailand can learn from Vermont.

Plasai visited Manchester on Saturday to speak on the U.N.'s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, though it was not the diplomat's first excursion to the Green Mountains. Last summer, Plasai was among 45 foreign diplomats from over 20 countries to visit the Northshire for a "Retreat on Sustainable and Resilient Communities," organized by the Dorset nonprofit The Grace Initiative.

"We have great admiration for this state and its people. We have great admiration for the United States of course, but Vermont has something special," said Plasai in an exclusive Journal interview. "I came here last year, and what your people are doing here in terms of sustainability is remarkable."

Plasai says that in this visit he hopes to not only share Thailand's sustainability efforts with audiences in town for Manchester's first Independent Television and Film Festival (ITVFest), but to also learn how Vermont and Thailand can continue to collaborate.

"Of course Vermont is a model in sustainability; in living in harmony with the environment and nature it's a model for us," said Plasai, who also served as the 2016 chair of The Group of 77. "What we can also share with you is our philosophy of living, which for me is more of a philosophy of decision making."

This philosophy was formulated by the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, says Plasai, and has come to be known as "sufficiency economic philosophy."

"There are different ways of looking at life. I look at life as an endless series of decision making. Every day, every moment of your life, you have to make decisions when you wake up until you go to bed," said Plasai. "This is a decision making framework, and it's based on simple values including prudence, and reasonableness. You use knowledge and virtue in order to achieve self-resilience."

Plasai notes that the philosophy focuses on self-resilience rather than self-sufficiency, as the latter denotes a certain isolationism not adept for a globalized world.

"It's sufficiency in the sense that you know where that sweet spot is in your life, you live in harmony with yourself and with others," said Plasai. "By the same token, if you live in harmony with nature and the environment you can achieve sustainability."

According to the ambassador, this philosophy could have a multitude of applications in the state of Vermont.

"It can be applied in agriculture; you have a great agricultural sector here," said Plasai. "It can also be applied in the business sector, in public administration, and even in your everyday life."

In his ITVFest discussion, Plasai sat down with television producer Libby O'Connell at the Manchester Community Library to discuss the way in which this "sufficiency economic philosophy" can interact with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) for 2030.

Following a brief introduction by O'Connell, the ambassador explained his view of the SDG's and how they improve upon the 2015 Millennium Development Goals, which Plasai asserts were designed with primarily developing nations in mind.

"The philosophy behind this is that everybody works together," said Plasai, noting that many of the 2030 SDG's are appropriate for developed nations as well as those continuing to develop. "Nobody is left behind."

When it comes to sustainability, says Plasai, Vermont is a state that decision makers can look to as an example.

"From my visit here last year with my colleagues from the G77, we saw that in Vermont you are already very advanced in achieving sustainability," said Plasai, citing experiences with organizations such as Green Mountain Power and Merck Forest and Farmland Center. "I can only commend the approach of the State of Vermont. I hope you can continue in that direction; it is the right way and you can be a model for other communities. Certainly for us in Thailand."

Still, the state is ahead of the U.S. as a whole according to Plasai, who cited issues including: poverty, income inequality, obesity, student debt, the imprisonment rate, life expectancy, greenhouse gas emissions, and assistance to poor nations.

Regarding national politics, Plasai was asked by audience member Lana Hauben of the Manchester Designer Outlets how the Trump administration has responded to issues of sustainable development thus far.

"The U.S. administration understands the need for development and the need to participate in this process of implementing the sustainable development goals," said Plasai. "At the same time the administration sees a need to reform the U.N. system, so we work together to ensure that that reform does not jeopardize the development efforts."

Still, in his visits to Vermont Plasai notes that our similarities are more evident than political differences.

"It's a great honor and always a pleasure to come back to Vermont, a state that a lot of people in Thailand, and in my office, admire a lot for what you're doing for sustainability, for the environment, for the world," said Plasai. "After coming here, we concluded that much of what we do looks a lot like what you're doing here."

MANCHESTER — Manchester will be home to an international discussion on trauma and healing on July 16.

The local non-profit The Grace Initiative will celebrate its new program in Colombia by welcoming Dr. Richard Mollica for his talk, "Healing the Invisible Wounds of the Past." Mollica, the Founding Director of the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, is the author of Healing Invisible Wounds: Paths to Hope and Recovery in a Violent World. Mollica taught the founder of the Grace Initiative, Yvonne Lodico, at the Yale Divinity School and will join her to support the Initiative's newest mission.

"Were going to be talking about Yvonne's work to establish an NGO working on the reconciliation amongst groups that have been in warfare with each other," said Mollica. "I'm going to discuss the issue of collective memory, and look at collective memory from two opposing perspectives: social healing, which is related to social justice, and personal healing, which is related to clinical, psychological, physical, and spiritual care of people who have been damaged by extreme violence."

This discussion celebrates the Grace Initiative's newest mission in Bogota Colombia, working with former combatants of the FARC. The Grace Initiative will work to support reconciliation through Centers for Social Transformation and Economic Empowerment, using Vermont's community centered agriculture and collective decision-making as a model for Colombia's path to healing and peace-building.

"I think the idea of groups sitting down with each other after decades of violence to try and create a safe and secure society is crucial," said Mollica. "Whether you're a victim of domestic violence or other abuse in Vermont, or a refugee coming to America for freedom and safety, the problem of recovering from violence inflicted from one human being to another is basic for every community and every society."

This vital healing from violence is at the center of the Grace Initiative's mission in Colombia, but is also applicable to many global issues.

"There are two catastrophic problems in the world today, and they're both related: global warming and the refugee crisis. There are many people who have been displaced by global warming and from violent events throughout the world," said Mollica. "Even if you're in Manchester Vermont, you can't avoid the fact that our country and the world are facing these catastrophic situations."

Though the discussion will tackle some troubling global issues, the ultimate message is an optimistic one.

"In a cruel and violent world, there is hope," said Mollica. "We can do more than survive, we can find strength and healing no matter what we have experienced."

This strength and healing stressed by Mollica is dependent on the justice that the Grace Initiative is seeking through their mission in Colombia.

"There's no healing without justice," said Mollica.

The celebration of the Grace Initiative's mission in Colombia, and Dr. Mollica's talk "Healing the Invisible Wounds of the Past," will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 16. Both events will take place at the Hill Farm Inn in Sunderland, and a donation of $30 to defray the costs of the event is appreciated. Following Mollica's discussion, farm-to-table delicacies alongside wine and Vermont beer will be served.

For more information, contact the Grace Initiative at contact@grace-initiative.org. To learn more about the organization, visit www.grace-initiative.org.

MANCHESTER — Vermonters have long had a reputation as warriors for social justice, and little-known organizations in our community are working fastidiously for peace and justice across the globe.

This week on Vermont Voices, a GNAT-TV talk show which works to link local news to national issues, I had the opportunity to learn about the work that Dorset resident Yvonne Lodico is doing to promote peace internationally.

Lodico came to Vermont after a long career with the United Nations and boasts degrees from NYU, Columbia, and Yale.

Recently, she founded the Initiative for Governance, Reconciliation, Agriculture, and Co-Existence, also known as the GRACE Initiative. The Grace Initiative, based out of Dorset, works closely with the United Nations and other international organization to promote peace and human dignity.

"I believe a lot in multilateralism, but sometimes there are issues that make it hard to move forward either because of the security council or other member states interests," said Lodico. "I noticed that a lot of NGO's had the flexibility to move into that space."

For Lodico, Vermont seemed to be the ideal place to begin her project.

"I noticed that there is a lot of peace building going on here in Vermont whether people recognize it or not," said Lodico, citing Vermont's Town Meeting tradition. "That sense of community, the accountability in governance, and the popularity of community supported agriculture are great examples to incorporate into peace building."

One project the GRACE Initiative has spearheaded focuses on the reintegration of the female soldiers of the FARC following the peace agreement enacted in Colombia this past September.

"I started to realize that there was really a lack of focus on the female ex-combatants," said Lodico. "Reintegration is the key of moving forward in peace; if that process doesn't go well then it doesn't bode well for other aspects of social cohesion."

Approximately 40 percent of FARC fighters are women, who have been cited as the most fear-inducing factions of the rebel army due to their ferocity in battle. Though these women proved to be capable combatants, they were often exposed to a litany of injustices including weaponized rape and forced abortion.

"The female ex-combatants have been perpetrators of violence and they have been victims of violence," said Lodico. "Often they were victims of violence when they left their homes, and that's why they chose to become guerilla fighters."

Despite their complex backgrounds, reintegration efforts have misguidedly focused on restoring these soldiers' femininity rather than their humanity.

"Many of those women had very important roles," said Lodico. "They weren't just victims, they were leaders."

The six month long demobilization effort will end on May 31, when the work of reintegration will really begin.

Until then, approximately 7,000 FARC fighters remain relegated to 26 demobilization camps across Colombia. Already, there has been a baby boom among former female soldiers with 60 babies born to guerillas so far and 80 more due.

"For the project for Columbia we want to use community supported agriculture, so we've talked to the Vermont Farmers Food Center and they are ready to help train female ex-combatants on setting up a CSA," said Lodico. "I think we'll be able to even employ people to go to a post conflict country and train these women."

The legacy of this Vermont initiative may last well into the future.

"Recently someone wrote to me and asked if this would also be applicable in other places like Africa," said Lodico. "Hopefully we can start a sort of model for the reintegration of female ex-combatants not just in Colombia, but globally as well."

NORTH BENNINGTON - Two diplomats visited Bennington College Saturday to hold a talk on women's empowerment and the changing role of women in the workplace.

The event was a collaborative between the Grace Initiative and Bennington College's Center for the Advancement of Public Action.

Chulamanee Chartsuwan, ambassador and deputy permanent representative from Thailand and Fabian Garcia discussed the two-week United Nations Commission on the Status of Women along with issues in their home countries regarding gender equality and other ongoing social problems.

Since 1947, women and men from ministries of foreign affairs, government positions, and civil society meet each year to have discussions on topics regarding women. This year's meeting focused mostly on women's empowerment and women in the workforce, along with the "Millennium Development Goals for Women and Girls."

Chartsuwan has been working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thailand since 1984. She has worked in Hauge and Singapore, and even in Brussels as the deputy chief of mission in the Royal Thai Embassy to Belgium and the mission to the European Union.

Chartsuwan gave insight on Thailand's perspective on women and noted that it's important for people to understand that these views are diverse across Asia.

"You need to look at each society differently before jumping to conclusions that this is the case for every woman," she said. "That you have to be submissive and do housework; no, that's not the case in Thailand."

Charstuwan gave a short synopsis of the historical background between men and women in her country. Two hundred to 300 years ago, men in Thailand had to leave their families for months at a time while doing some service for the state, as there was no taxes in the country at the time. With the men away, women had to become the heads of their households - some women became involved with the government. To this day women continue to contribute to decision making.

According to Chartsuwan, about 60 percent of Thailand's labor force is women. Roughly 6.8 percent of women are under the poverty line - there is no gender bias in poverty. Women have become much more accepted in the workforce, but they still do deal with the pressures of attending to family life. There is roughly an even split between women and men who own businesses, one of the highest in the world.

Despite all of this, the glass ceiling continues to exist. Chartsuwan believes that there is more work to be done to include women in politics. Women are also drawn back from reaching their full potential due to education. Some groups of women do not have equal access to good education, she said.

"In my ministry, we have more and more women, but at the top, it is still dominated by men," Chartsuwan said. "In my mission we recruit the brightest to the mission to support the work. I am proud to report to you that 75 percent of people in the mission are women."

Even though there are laws about gender equality and family development, there is still much more that needs to be done.

According to Garcia, some studies have suggested that it will take about 180 years for men and women to earn the same amount of money. Whatever steps the United Nations can do now to help speed up that process helps in the long run, he said.

"Men are partners in the quest of equality," Garcia said.

Both Chartsuwan and Garcia gave listeners a view on what it takes and means to work with the United Nations. They both reflected that it is a challenging job, that also offers them many different life experiences - sometimes they are even advocating for things they do not agree with for their government. It is also hard for them and their families, as they often have to relocate for different jobs.

Editor’s note: This commentary is by Pilanya Niyomthai, a counsellor for the the Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations, and Yvonne Lodico, the founder of the Initiative for Governance, Reconciliation and Coexistence (Grace Initiative).

Sustainability and resilience are long-term progressions and the trajectory depends greatly on where and how the processes unfold. During the G77 Retreat, attendees learned that in Vermont, sustainability begins from inter alia its historical roots, its state policies and support, community practices and advocates, as well as from its farmers, academic institutions and private sector. The G77 retreat, co-organized by the Permanent Mission of Thailand, serving as the chair of the G77, and Grace Initiative showed the coincidence of Thailand’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (developed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej) and Vermont’s policies and practices, from state to community level dealing with sustainable agriculture, education, management of natural resources and renewable energy. (Story)

While the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development lays out a global action plan to achieve sustainable development in its three dimensions – economic, social and environmental, implementation must take place at the local level. To this end, the G77 retreat embraced international and Vermont synergies.

In addition to the previous coverage, we would like to point out that Chuck Ross, secretary of agriculture, captured the retreat’s tone when he welcomed the diplomats, underscoring the spirit and soul of Vermont, especially its sustainable farming goals and practices. Robert Allen, president of Green Mountain College, explained the college’s innovative focus on sustainability, and Ruqaiyah Morris, Bennington state representative, discussed the inclusive dedicated effort involved in transforming communities. Scout Proft of Someday Farm, illuminated the room with her experience and spontaneity.

Also, at Burr and Burton Academy’s Mountain Campus, Wanchat Suwankitti, of the National Economic and Social Development Board of Thailand, discussed Thailand’s plan and path to attain sustainable development goals through the application of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy. Arrut Navaraj, managing director of Sampran Riverside in Thailand, discussed how he translated the philosophy to move farming in Thailand to organic farming, and how organic farmers supply food for businesses and hotels. Also, Gil Livingston, president of Vermont Land Trust, explained how Vermont supports the continuity of farming in Vermont. Later, Robert Dostis, of Green Mountain Power, gave an interactive discussion on clean energy.

On the second day, Scott Johnstone, executive director of Vermont Energy Investment Corp., discussed sustainable energy. Michael Knapp, of Green Rivers Corp., discussed the computer models tracking the impact of climate change for companies such as Starbucks. Arrut Navaraj linked food to people, through which one can see clear similarities between the Thai Sufficiency Economy Philosophy and Vermont’s practices.

Finally, Liz Ruffa, project director of Northshire Grows, explained the “farm-to-plate” network in Vermont. Moderators included Eloho Otobo of Grace Initiative and former senior UN staff member, and Narinder Kakar, a permanent observer at the UN for the University for Peace.

Of the 40-some diplomats, the participating diplomats included the current chair of the G77, as well as the incoming chair for 2017. Also participating was the ambassador from Indonesia, the chair of the Second Committee of the General Assembly for development.

To this end, we are thankful to everyone involved, taking note that many Vermont participants came from Burlington, Montpelier and Brattleboro. Grace Initiative is grateful for the trust of the diplomats, especially the Permanent Mission of Thailand and its ambassador, Virachai Plasai, for believing in the idea of a retreat for international learning and exchange for sustainable development — in Vermont. With the recent passing of Thailand’s king on Oct. 13, the retreat now creates historical bonds.

MANCHESTER — With the green mountains, farmland and local destinations and cultural institutions serving as a backdrop, 45 foreign diplomats spent two days this weekend learning about sustainability efforts in Vermont.

Top world leaders from 24 countries visited Northshire communities for the first United Nations retreat in the state. According to organizers, the retreat aimed to show diplomats the practices that support Vermont’s environment, businesses and people.

The diplomats represented the Group of 77 (G77). The collection of 134 developing nations is the largest intergovernmental group within the U.N.

Virachai Plasai, chairman for the G77 and Thailand’s permanent representative to the U.N., described the visit as “an eye opener.” Plasai, in an interview at Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home, said he and others viewed the retreat as an opportunity to see a sustainable way of life. And what they saw will guide the countries’ plans of how to meet global “Sustainable Development Goals” the U.N. adopted one year ago.

Plasai spoke of similarities between the environmentally conscious way of thinking that many Vermonters subscribe to and the ideas described in Thailand’s “sufficiency economy philosophy.”

The two-day visit, called a “Retreat on Sustainable and Resilient Communities,” was cosponsored by the Grace Initiative, a Vermont-based nonprofit organization.It was founded by Yvonne Lodico, who previously worked for the U.N. for 15 years.

Lodico, of Dorset, said the retreat provided an opportunity for G77 delegates to gain insight and examples of strategies for sustainable communities. Lodico cited Vermont’s reputation for sustainability in agriculture and energy, and community-based efforts.“This is important for trust building, and for peaceful and inclusive societies,” she said.

G77 is named for the initial 77 member states. Today, its 134 members include Afghanistan, Brazil, Kenya, Palestine and Vietnam, all of which were represented at the retreat.

Diplomats departed the U.N. in New York City on Friday.They toured the Burr and Burton Academy campus and were served a special dinner at Stratton Mountain Resort, where they were also addressed by Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Deb Markowitz.

Stops on Saturday included Merck Forest in Rupert, the Marble House Project in Dorset for lunch and a panel discussion, and then Hildene, the Lincoln family home.

Along the way, they heard from state officials and representatives about Vermont policies and practices that support sustainable development. The U.N. adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals last September. It sets a list of 17 goals “to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all.”

The goals — which include achieving zero hunger, providing clean water and sanitation, action to address climate change, and responsible consumption and production — apply to both developed and developing countries.

Plasai said the sufficiency economy philosophy was proposed by Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, after the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

The philosophy stresses three principles, he said: Moderation, reasonableness and self-immunity.

“We think this model can be one of the ways for achieving goals of the agenda,” he said.

Meeting the goals and targets could mean merging the philosophy of Vermonters and the philosophy promoted by the Thai king, he said.

“All of this, no matter what we call it, is being practiced in this state,” he said.

On August 24, 2016, in Havana, Cuba, the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia agreed to a ceasefire, ending an internal armed conflict that has spanned over five decades. Colombia’s civil war, the longest in Latin American history, has resulted in the death of over 220,000 people, most of them civilians, and the displacement of 6.7 million people, especially women.

While the historic ceasefire is a laudable feat, efforts now need to focus on bringing a holistic transformation of relations between the parties to foster coexistence and an enduring peace. This is a Herculean task for Colombia which, with the help of international allies, will need to address the magnitude of loss, not just of life, but also the dignity, of its people. The transformation of a society from the devastation and wounds of the past to post-conflict reconstruction requires not only national and international support, but also grassroots and community level leadership, participation, and trust building. A number of programs are being set up to deal with the historical memory of the victims of war (e.g. to remedy intergenerational transmission of collective trauma), reconciliation between factions of the conflict, and reintegration of former combatants, including child soldiers.

Importantly, stakeholders must focus on developing communities that are resilient. Resilience allows for a community to endure stresses and shocks, whether environmental or societal, so that they do not escalate into pockets of conflict that could undermine wider peacebuilding efforts. By addressing triggers of conflicts at an early stage, conflicts can be prevented through systematic self-help mechanisms available to local communities and institutions. For example, community-led conflict management can be used to strengthen the capacity of communities to resolve conflicts and deal with the legacy of violence in an open and sustainable manner. In addition to promoting attitudes of tolerance, community-based dispute resolution systems can also generate trust and help build a culture of peace. Another strategy for building resilient communities is to bring in victims and local educational workers, including teachers, to develop syllabi that incorporates narratives of coexistence.

For a sustainable peace, there must be a culture of peace that embraces respect for all Colombians. Peace is sustained through interdisciplinary efforts dedicated to replace a culture of conflict with one of inclusion and cooperation. It is critical that all of Colombia’s peacebuilding strategies advocate for the inclusion of women, Afro-Colombians, indigenous people, youth and the LGBT community.

Resilience is a long-term process but the trajectory depends greatly on where and how this process begins, and thus inclusion must be integrated from the onset. Peacebuilding programs should specifically acknowledge and actively promote co-existence and resilience at all levels of Colombian society. People at the community level need to become engaged in the planning and production of the sustainability and resilience of their communities.

One way to develop these community-based programs is through the creation of a Sustainability and Resilience Trust. The Trust, comprised of community experts in sustainable agriculture, demining, environmental planning, social and trust building, education, and business, would provide training and advice at the community level in Colombia. In addition to providing a platform to share experience, the Trust can facilitate dialogue among peacebuilding stakeholders and promote nonviolent social change and sustainable living in communities.

As with any sustainable development project, local and state programming must also integrate effective policy solutions that address a myriad of other objectives such as social responsibility, good governance and economic development. For example, the government must address sustainable farming, land conservation, poverty eradication, and the promotion of sustainable business ventures. Creating market mechanisms and managing natural resources will not only engage the Colombian people in the growth of their communities, but it will also foster relationships between the government, the private sector, and NGOs.

Colombia is facing a historic opportunity to not only know peace, but practicepeace. In order to ensure that peace is sustainable, efforts must be made to acknowledge and preserve the historical memory of victims, incorporate programming that fosters resiliency and coexistence, and actively recruit women, Afro-Colombians, indigenous people, youth and members of the LGBT community for leadership roles in the re-building of a new Colombia.

These efforts are aligned with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which lays out an action plan to, inter alia, strengthen universal peace, eradicate poverty, and promote “peaceful and inclusive societies”. The inclusion and reintegration of war victims in post-conflict society depends greatly on acknowledging their suffering, helping them reclaim their dignity, and building trust capital. A Trust focused on sustainability and resilience would provide an ideal space to combine efforts, know-how, and resources to achieve those goals.

Developing resilient communities will help Colombia move towards sustainable peace and provide a blueprint for how parties in a conflict can turn their backs to violence without turning their backs on each other.

The Initiative for Governance, Reconciliation and Coexistence (Grace Initiative) announces an innovative seminar at the United Nations Headquarters on Sufficiency Economy Philosophy and Sustainable Peace Processes. The Initiative is honored to carry out this program with the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Thailand to the UN and the Permanent Mission of Colombia to the UN. Please find the invitation to the Member States of the United Nations.

SC/12218 | 7609th Meeting (PM) | Security Council Meetings Coverage

The Security Council today decided to establish a political mission of unarmed international observers to monitor and verify for one year the laying down of arms by the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia–People’s Army (FARC-EP), should they agree to end a civil war that has raged for half a century, the longest in Latin America.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2261 (2016), the Council decided that the mission would monitor and verify a definitive bilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities between the parties, following the signing of the Final Peace Agreement. The mission would be the coordinator of a “tripartite mechanism”, foreseen by the parties to be included in the Final Peace Agreement, and headed by a special representative of the Secretary-General.

The adoption of the resolution, tabled by the United Kingdom, follows a 19 January letter (document S/2016/53) to the Council President from the President of Colombia and the leader of FARC-EP, requesting the participation of the United Nations in the Agreement’s tripartite mechanism. It outlines the progress made on fundamental issues over the past three years and contains a Joint Communiqué issued by Colombia and FARC-EP in Havana on 19 January. The Communiqué is the result of a peace process started in 2012.

To create the mission, the Council requested, by terms of the resolution, that the Secretary-General initiate preparations now and present recommendations on the size, operational aspects and mandate of the mission, consistent with the Joint Communiqué, within 30 days of the signature of the ceasefire agreement. It further requested that he report on implementation of the mission’s mandate every 90 days after the start of its activities. In that connection, the Council looked forward to contributions from the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

During the ensuing debate, speakers welcomed the adoption and prospects for ending the bloodshed that had claimed more than 220,000 lives and displaced 6 million people. Many noted that Colombia was on the cusp of a historic agreement and praised Cuba, Norway, Chile and Venezuela for their involvement.

“It isn’t often that a country refers itself to the Council,” said the United Kingdom’s delegate, expressing hope that the current phase would be the final stage in the peace talks. “Together we can ensure that the implementation of this resolution is swift and effective.”

Venezuela’s representative, noting that his country had welcomed some 5 million Colombians, urged support for the neighbouring country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for its ability to manage its internal affairs. Uruguay’s Foreign Minister, Council President for January, added that the end of hostilities would mean Latin America was free from conflict.

Colombia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs of Colombia thanked the Council for the resolution’s unanimous adoption, saying Colombians had requested the Council’s support in implementing the agreement for the laying down of arms, as well as monitoring and verifying the ceasefire and cessation of hostilities. The Council’s willingness to work with Colombia was essential for the success of that process. “We see our future with hope in our capacity for reconciliation, essential in renewing our society,” she said.

Also speaking today were representatives of the United States, Russian Federation, China, Spain, France, New Zealand, Japan, Ukraine, Malaysia, Angola, Egypt and Senegal.

The meeting began at 3:10 p.m. and ended at 4:05 p.m.

Statements

MATTHEW RYCROFT (United Kingdom) said his delegation was a great supporter of the search for peace, which had long eluded Colombia, adding that it was to the credit of the parties that had worked together to bring the matter to the Council. “It isn’t often that a country refers itself to the Council,” he noted, expressing hope that the current phase would be the final stage in the peace talks. “Together we can ensure that the implementation of this resolution is swift and effective,” drawing upon the unity found today.

RAFAEL DARÍO RAMÍREZ CARREÑO (Venezuela) said her delegation had co-sponsored and voted in favour of the resolution. The impetus of the Bolivarian ideal had long united Venezuela with Colombia and other Latin American neighbours. For decades, the world had watched in sorrow as Colombians had fought each other, he recalled, adding that any deeply Bolivarian republic could not watch idly as the tragedy unfolded. Venezuela had welcomed some 5 million Colombians. He called for support for Colombia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and for its ability to manage its own internal affairs.

SAMANTHA POWER (United States) noted that the conflict in Colombia had claimed some 220,000 lives, while the Government had registered some 6 million displaced people. After nearly four years in negotiations, “Colombia is on the precipice of a historic agreement”, she said, emphasizing that a new chapter could open if the fighting truly ended. The resolution adopted today represented the United Nations answer to the joint call by the Government and the FARC-EP to engage in the peace process. With its vote today, the United States had underscored its continuing partnership with Colombia, she emphasized, pointing out that her country had supported Government efforts to seek a sustainable peace, and it would continue to do so. Going forward, victims and vulnerable individuals would need access to justice and other services, landmines would need to be removed and the Government must expand the rule of law while boosting economic activities in formerly war-affected areas. Much would rest on implementation, she stressed.

VITALY I. CHURKIN (Russian Federation) welcomed the 23 September 2015 agreement signed by the President of Colombia and the leader of the FARC-EP on a timeline for achieving a final peace agreement, as well as the 19 January Joint Communiqué. Saying his delegation believed that countries would respond positively to a request for unarmed observers, he emphasized Cuba’s role in finding mutually acceptable solutions to the most complex problems. The Russian Federation had championed rapid conclusion of the peace process, and the agreements reached, as well as today’s resolution, would be a milestone towards peace and a final settlement.

LIU JIEYI (China), welcoming the resolution’s adoption, said the parties were expected to sign a peace agreement that would end a civil war that had lasted half a century, while providing an example for resolving other hot spots. Commending both sides for engaging in “dialogue for peace”, he expressed hope that the resolution would push for the early signature and full implementation of a peace agreement. China would be prepared for deployment of the special political mission.

ROMÁN OYARZUN MARCHESI (Spain) congratulated Colombia for its efforts towards reconciliation among all its citizens. For the Council, it was a historic day given the adoption of a resolution that had enjoyed both 15 votes in favour as well as 15 co-sponsors. Offering his country’s experience in peace processes as a member of the United Nations and the European Union, he said Spain would always be by Colombia’s side.

FRANÇOIS DELATTRE (France) said it had not been often in the Council’s history that a country had requested assistance with its own peace process. Moreover, the Council’s quick response demonstrated that it was a “central, legitimate and trustworthy player” in the maintenance of international peace and security. Noting that his country had supported Colombia financially and with expertise, he expressed hope that the mission would help the country rapidly restore peace.

GERARD VAN BOHEMEN (New Zealand) described the Council’s quick and flexible response to Colombia’s request as a positive development and praised the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP for their work towards peace. He also welcomed the role that the region as a whole had played in the peace process. “No one expects the road ahead to be easy, but as was demonstrated today, the United Nations and the Security Council are here to help”, he said.

TAKESHI AKAHORI (Japan), noting that his country had also co-sponsored the resolution, welcomed today’s adoption of the text. Japan had been engaged in demining and other support activities for Colombia and would continue to support the country — including financially — going forward.

VOLODYMYR YELCHENKO (Ukraine) welcomed the major breakthrough in peace negotiations, especially on justice, the laying down of arms and a time frame. The peace talks in Havana had led to progress in ending the 50-year-old conflict, the oldest in Latin America. Underlining the important roles of Norway and Cuba as guarantors and of Chile and Venezuela as accompanying countries, he said today’s resolution would strengthen the role of the United Nations in peacebuilding. Colombia’s initiative to engage the Organization as part of the tripartite mechanism would bring stability to the region, he said, adding that such models should be replicated.

RAMLAN BIN IBRAHIM (Malaysia) said the resolution authorized a special political mission of unarmed international observers to monitor and verify the laying down of arms. Pending its start, the parties should spare no effort to achieve a speedy conclusion of a final peace agreement. The mission would help increase parties’ confidence with a view to consolidating gains made. Malaysia looked forward to the Secretary-General’s proposals on the mission’s creation.

ISMAEL ABRAÃO GASPAR MARTINS (Angola) praised the parties for having engaged in fruitful negotiations aimed at ending the decades-long conflict. He praised Cuba and Norway for facilitating negotiations, calling upon Colombia and the FARC-EP to respect the final peace agreement. Angola hoped the future mission would carry out its tasks with professionalism and impartiality, he said.

OSAMA ABDELKHALEK MAHMOUD (Egypt) congratulated the people and Government of Colombia for having taken a historic step today, pointing out that his delegation had co-sponsored and voted in favour of the resolution.

FODÉ SECK (Senegal), emphasizing that a country that did not know its history was doomed to repeat its mistakes again and again, said “the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP have clearly read their history books well”, adding that they were turning a new leaf in their country’s history. From an African perspective, he said, Colombia’s historic action was a sign of hope because it was a step towards ending a conflict that had raged for five decades.

RODOLFO NIN NOVOA, Foreign Minister of Uruguay and Council President for January, spoke in his national capacity, congratulating Colombia for the “new, essential step” it had taken today. The decision had the unanimous support of the Council and the whole international community due to the clear determination of both parties to find a lasting peace, he said. Acknowledging the important role played by Cuba, Nicaragua, Chile, Venezuela and the United Kingdom in drafting the resolution, he said he was proud to be presiding over the Council at this moment, firstly because of the “clear empathy that we feel for the Colombian people”, and secondly because the end of the fighting would mean that Latin America was a region free from conflict.

MARÍA ANGELA HOLGUÍN, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Colombia, thanked the Council for its unanimous adoption of the resolution. Colombians had sought their own consensual solutions and had come to seek the Council’s support in implementing the agreement on the laying down of arms, as well as on monitoring and verifying the ceasefire and cessation of hostilities. The Council’s willingness to work with Colombia was essential for the success of those processes.

She went on to say that her country’s President believed that, after half a century of violence, an end to the conflict was possible. He had outlined a peace policy that would make the building of a prosperous, modern and safe society a reality. Negotiations had enjoyed the support of Cuba and Norway as guarantors, as well as Chile and Venezuela as accompanying countries. They had also had significant support from other countries in the hemisphere, as well as from Europe, Asia and Africa. The Secretary-General had supported the peace negotiations from the start, while his Special Envoy had been tasked with explaining how the system worked, she said. “We see our future with hope in our capacity for reconciliation, essential in renewing our society,” she added.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 2261 (2016) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Underlining its full commitment to the Peace Process in the Republic of Colombia and its support for the “General Agreement to End the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace”, signed in Havana, Cuba, on 26 August 2012, between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia — People’s Army (FARC-EP),

“Welcoming the progress in the negotiation process, the commitment of the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP to reach a swift end to the armed conflict, and the confidence-building measures implemented in order to provide the first dividends of the peace process to the Colombian people,

“Acknowledging the request made by the Government of Colombia, through the letter dated 19 January 2016 from the President of Colombia addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council of the United Nations (S/2016/53), which encloses the Joint Communiqué between the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP,

“Noting that the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP foresee that the Final Peace Agreement will include a tripartite mechanism to monitor and verify the definitive bilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, and the laying down of arms; and recognising the contribution that a United Nations observer mission can make in the context of the tripartite mechanism,

“Recognising further that the request made through the Government of Colombia refers to the participation of the United Nations as the international component of the above-mentioned tripartite mechanism for a limited period,

“Recognising further the vital role played by the Republic of Cuba and the Kingdom of Norway as guarantors, and by the Republic of Chile and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela as accompanying countries of the Peace Process in Colombia,

“Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirming further the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Colombia,

“Recognising Colombia’s ownership of the implementation of the Final Peace Agreement,

“1. Decides to establish a political mission to participate for a period of 12 months, as the international component and coordinator of the above-mentioned tripartite mechanism (the Mission), headed by a special representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations;

“2. Decides further that the Mission will be a political mission of unarmed international observers, responsible for the monitoring and verification of the laying down of arms, and a part of the tripartite mechanism that will monitor and verify the definitive bilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities,

consistent with the Joint Communiqué, beginning all monitoring and verification activities, which will commence the 12 month period, following the signing of the Final Peace Agreement between the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP;

“3. Requests the Secretary-General to initiate preparations now, including on the ground, and to present detailed recommendations to the Security Council for its consideration and approval regarding the size and operational aspects and mandate of the Mission, consistent with the Joint Communiqué, as soon as possible and then within 30 days of the signature of the ceasefire agreement by the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP, in light of its provisions;

“4. Looks forward to the contributions of Member States of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to the Mission;

“5. Further requests the Secretary-General, based on the reporting of the special representative to the Secretary-General, to report to the Security Council on the implementation of the Mission’s mandate every 90 days after the start of its monitoring and verification activities and on completion of the Mission;

“6. Expresses its willingness to consider extending the Mission upon the joint request of the Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP.”